Brittany

Brittany

Introduction

Our villas in Brittany are concentrated in the Finistère ‘département’ in the west of the Breton peninsula. In the north of this region, the city of Brest is fortuitously sheltered by a large natural harbour, La Rade de Brest. The city played an important part in the Second World War and is rich in history and culture. Reflecting its coastal position, attractions in Brest include an excellent Aquarium and the marine museum Museé de la Marine.

The area just south of Brest is a protected national park, encompassing beautiful woodland, wild moorland and the stunning Crozon peninsula with its unspoilt coastline.

In the south, the historic town of Quimper is well worth a visit, home to a distinctive cathedral with twin spires as well as the Breton museum and the Museé des Beaux Arts. Beyond Quimper, the Penmarc’h peninsula is often thought of as the heartland of Brittany, with traditional crafts and history to discover and cultural events and customs to participate in.

Moving east along the south coast are many seaside towns with fantastic family-friendly beaches, facilities and activities, and interesting towns such as Concarneau, Pont-Aven and Quimperlé to visit.

Breton culture

Brittany's very strong cultural identity is cherished by its people, with the Breton language making a modern-day comeback. Similarly, Breton music and dancing are proudly celebrated at regular festivals, sometimes performed by groups dressed in traditional costume but often with the opportunity for onlookers to join in; look out for the posters advertising a local 'Fest Noz'. A large scale festival of this kind drawing people from all over is the annual Interceltique festival, held in Lorient in early August. During October, the Atlantique Jazz Festival takes place in various venues across the region, from major centres such as Brest and Lorient to smaller towns like Crozon and Pont-l'Abbé.

Cuisine

Given its heritage as an important fishing region, seafood is of course a dominant theme on Breton menus and a wide range of fish and shellfish is available. The catch of the day is usually a good bet, guaranteed to be freshly caught, or the Coquille Saint-Jacques is a particularly delicious speciality, scallops usually prepared in a Béchamel sauce and served in the shell.

Perhaps the most typical dish however is the 'galette bretonne', a savoury filled crêpe, accompanied by a cup of Breton cider. Fillings range from simple ham or cheese to more unusual and indulgent options such as smoked salmon, creamed leeks, forest mushrooms…

Other regional specialities to sample are an egg custard flan known as Far Breton, a buttery cake called Kouign Amann, and the (equally buttery) biscuit known as Traou Mad.

Markets

Most towns hold a weekly market selling fresh local produce, and often the opportunity to sample specialities before purchasing. These include markets held in Bénodet and Concarneau on Monday, Moëlan and Telgruc sur Mer on Tuesday, Le Guilvinec on Wednesday, Pont l'Abbé on Thursday, Fouesnant on Friday, Clohars Carnoët on Saturday, and Quimper on Sunday. For the freshest fish, and an experience not to be missed, get up early and buy direct from the port when the fishermen bring their catch in – Le Guilvinec is one of the biggest fishing ports. For oysters, go to Belon port near Pont-Aven.

Climate

Brittany enjoys a mild climate, much like that of Cornwall, thanks to its coastal borders and the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. The Breton peninsula and the south coast in particular experience a micro-climate with comparatively higher temperatures and more sunshine than the rest of northern France and the UK. The region’s climate make it a good choice for families with young children, and allow sports and other activities to be enjoyed at comfortable temperatures.

getting to brittany

Travel Options

The airports of Brest, Rennes and Dinard are all accessible from our properties in Brittany.

Nowadays, the variety and choice of flights from UK airports to European destinations is considerable. We do not tie you in to a package holiday with prearranged travel; you are free to choose flights from your closest airport using any charter, scheduled or low cost airline.

We always recommend booking your flights and hire car as soon as you have decided on your holiday accommodation. You will find that fares are usually lower and the choice of flight times is wider.

If you need to place a 'hold' on your chosen property whilst you are booking your flights or ferry we are more than happy to do this for you. We can book flights on your behalf if you would like us to, for this service we charge a fee of £30 for each return flight booked

Fly from:

Aberdeen

Belfast

Birmingham

Bristol

Cardiff

East Midlands

Edinburgh

Exeter

Gatwick

Glasgow

Heathrow

Leeds Bradford

Liverpool

Luton

Manchester

Newcastle

Norwich

Stansted

Useful links

Villages and towns in Brittany

Quimperlé

The charming town of Quimperlé in southern Brittany boasts a perfect riverside setting, which can be admired from the banks but perhaps even more so by taking to the water in a canoe or kayak. The River Laïta begins in the town, where the Ellé and Isole rivers converge at the lovely stone bridge. Living up to its name, the Pont Fleurie is festooned with brightly coloured blooms cascading from pots positioned all along it. Traditional crêperies serve savoury galettes and sugary crêpes at terrace tables perched over the ever-moving water. The town itself is a delight to wander, film set perfect in its appearance. Cobbled streets meander past timber-framed medieval buildings, the striking market hall and the unusual circular Sainte-Croix Abbey, to the top of the town where visitors can reward themselves with a glass of Breton cider.

Concarneau

A major port for both commercial fishing and pleasure boats, Concarneau has both a picturesque old town with traditional handicraft shops to explore as well as a bustling modern centre for holiday retail therapy! For a glimpse of Breton past, take a walk around the iconic landmark of the 'Ville Close', the fortified old town set in the harbour. The nearby fishing museum makes for a great family outing, and the day is not complete without sampling fresh seafood in a waterfront restaurant watching the boats come and go. Lovely walks and bike rides can be enjoyed along the coastal path, and a range of water sports is on offer, whilst companies down at the harbour offer sea fishing expeditions in the bay or the more relaxed option of a cruise out to the Glénan Isles, Brittany’s answer to the Caribbean!

Roscoff

A busy arrival point for channel ferries, the town of Roscoff itself is perhaps less known and will delight and surprise those who stay in the area rather than bypassing it. The narrow streets are lined with distinctive granite-built houses, adorned with flowers, and the harbour walls and working fishing port add to the charm. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants, and a string of superb beaches to discover to east and west. The ‘Jardin Exotique’ is well worth a visit, to marvel at the usually exotic plants which grow here. Another must is to take a boat out to the Ile de Batz, an inhabited island only 15 minutes off shore, with history to discover, wildlife and walking to enjoy and stunning white sand beaches to relax on.

Pont-l'Abbé

Pont-l’Abbé is the main town of the Penmarc’h peninsula, in the far southwest of Brittany. This area is often considered the traditional heartland of Brittany, a perfect place to discover and be immersed in Breton culture! Try to join in with a ‘fest noz’, a festival with Breton music and dancing, and don’t miss the Musée Bigouden, whose exhibits focus on the customs and traditional dress of the area, in particular the lace headdress that has become emblematic of Brittany as a whole. The town centre has plenty of restaurants and crêperies, and boutiques selling Breton specialities and handicrafts. The west coast beaches are great for surfing, whilst those further round at the seaside town of Loctudy are sheltered and perfect for families.

Plouescat

The Plouescat area is mainly known for its fabulous coastline, sandy beaches and dunes, sheltered creeks, and rockpools where families will love looking for creatures at low tide. There is plenty of opportunity to try nautical sports here, including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and paddle boarding, as well as sand yachting. The town itself has a good selection of amenities as well as some interesting features such as its 16th century covered market. The surrounding area, known as the Pays de Léon, is mainly given over to market gardening, but dotted with mysterious prehistoric stones, magnificent chapels and Celtic monuments.

Bénodet

Bénodet enjoys a truly delightful setting on the south coast, at the mouth of the Odet river, where yachts and sailing boats bob in the marina. The town itself impresses with its stylish boutiques, spa centres and excellent seafront restaurants serving fresh fish and seafood platters. There are a number of beaches to choose from in and around the town, with the opportunity to try a variety of water sports. Across the estuary, the smaller seaside town of Sainte Marine still retains the feel of a fishing village with its colourful façades and little harbour. You can see why this stretch of coastline is often referred to as the Breton Riviera!

Plounéour-Brignogan-Plages

Grouped together as a single ‘commune’ since 2017, the seaside villages of Plounéour and Brignogan lie either side of a peninsula along the Côte des Legendes, a gorgeous stretch of coastline with plenty of heritage to discover too. To be appreciated first and foremost is the choice of fine sand beaches with excellent water quality, and water sports centres offering a range of activities, making this an ideal seaside holiday destination. Days out from here could include the traditional museum-artisan village of Meneham, the city of Brest and the Armorique natural park.